Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Plant Garlic Bulbs

...

Tip

Cut the flowers off the garlic stalk as they form to encourage larger bulb growth. Replace the soil in containers or rotate your garlic bed to help prevent pests and disease.

Warning

Move garlic into a shaded area soon after harvesting to avoid sun damage to bulbs. Over watering will inhibit bulb growth or cause the bulb to rot in the ground.

Known for its strong aroma, garlic is prized in the kitchen, especially in Italian dishes. Garlic is also a simple herb to grow. Experiment with garlic bulbs from your local grocery store or purchase one of the many varieties from a seed supplier or nursery. Garlic requires at least 8 months to reach maturity, so planting takes place in the fall for spring or early summer harvest. Garlic is a suitable edible plant for apartment gardeners since it grows just as well in a pot as it does in the ground.

Fill a 12-inch container with nutrient rich potting soil or work compost into your outdoor planting bed for garden growing. Prepare to plant after the first frost of autumn.

  • Known for its strong aroma, garlic is prized in the kitchen, especially in Italian dishes.
  • Garlic is a suitable edible plant for apartment gardeners since it grows just as well in a pot as it does in the ground.

Peel off the paper-like skin on the outside of the garlic bulb. Pull apart the individual garlic cloves from the bulb to separate.

Choose the largest cloves for planting. Larger cloves grow into larger bulbs. Save the small cloves for cooking.

Dig a hole 2 inches deeper than the length of the clove. Set the clove in the hole pointed end up and cover with soil. Leave 6 inches between each clove when planting.

  • Peel off the paper-like skin on the outside of the garlic bulb.
  • Save the small cloves for cooking.

Cover the soil with an organic mulch, such as straw. Mulch both garden beds and containers to protect against extreme cold, weeds and pests. Place containers outside after mulching.

Keep the soil moist. Water only as needed to keep the bed or container from completely drying out.

Harvest in the late spring after the leaves have begun to die back but there is still some green remaining on the plant--from mid-May into August depending on the variety. Dig the dirt away from around the garlic carefully to avoid damaging the bulb, then lift it from the soil.

  • Cover the soil with an organic mulch, such as straw.
  • Dig the dirt away from around the garlic carefully to avoid damaging the bulb, then lift it from the soil.

Related Articles

How to Plant & Fertilize Garlic Correctly
How to Plant & Fertilize Garlic Correctly
How to Transplant Allium
How to Transplant Allium
Planting & Growing Garlic in Kansas
Planting & Growing Garlic in Kansas
How to Propagate a Ginger Plant
How to Propagate a Ginger Plant
How to Plant the Herb Fennel
How to Plant the Herb Fennel
Garlic Planting Instructions
Garlic Planting Instructions
How to Grow Shallots in Containers
How to Grow Shallots in Containers
How to Plant Garlic in New York
How to Plant Garlic in New York
How to Plant Garlic in Pots
How to Plant Garlic in Pots
How to Plant Garlic in Utah
How to Plant Garlic in Utah
How to Grow Gladiolus Bulbs Indoors
How to Grow Gladiolus Bulbs Indoors
How to Plant Garlic in Washington State
How to Plant Garlic in Washington State
How to Plant Onion Sets
How to Plant Onion Sets
How to Plant Onion Bulbs in the Spring
How to Plant Onion Bulbs in the Spring
How to Plant Garlic Cloves in Your Garden
How to Plant Garlic Cloves in Your Garden
How to Plant Garlic in Georgia
How to Plant Garlic in Georgia
Garden Guides
×